Our FoodnFlix selection this month was the movie Bottle Shock based on the true story of California winery Chateau Montelena winning out over French wines in a blind tasting held in Paris in 1976.
This is the wine and the competition that put California and the USA on the map in regards to winemaking.
The Lebanese Mezze Table: Much More Than Food, A Social Gathering! Meze or mezze is a selection of small dishes served to accompany alcoholic drinks in the Near East, the Balkans, and parts of Central Asia. In Levantine, Caucasian, and Balkan cuisines, meze is often served at the beginning of multi-course meals. (Source: https://www.nogarlicnoonions.com/)
What are you serving up for Cinco de Mayo tonight? I am making a Chopped Shrimp and Avocado Salad and then finishing up with these delightful bowls of Fresas con Crema. Strawberries and Cream are a match made in Heaven and I love this Mexican version. It is the perfect dessert. Sweet, Fruity, and Creamy. As an added bonus....It only takes minutes to put together.
We celebrated Frank's 70th Birthday Sunday, however today is his actual birthday. As my regular readers know, Frank had a rough start to this year so we had much reason to celebrate.
I received a copy of Sobromesa: A memoir of food and love in thirteen courses by Josephine Camino Oria and 2 bottles of Norton wine for the purpose of review. I received no monetary compensation for this post. All writings and opinions are 100% my own.
Sobremesa (noun): Time spent being present at the table, lingering over a meal in conversation well after the food is gone.
Bananas enfolded in a cream cheese filling, wrapped in a flour tortilla, drenched with caramel sauce and garnished with minted stawberries and whipped cream. What a fun and delicious way to end your Cinco de Mayo Fiesta.
This is a photo of me and my dear friend, Kirsten. It was taken at our daughter, Nicole's wedding. This photo always made me smile. Now I am smiling through my tears. I lost my sister, my soulmate, my dearest friend last Monday.
Kirsten was completely healthy. She had no underlying health issues. She faithfully wore her mask when out in public and practiced social distancing. She contracted COVID during the Easter holidays. She and her husband, John, both had a very bad case. Kirsten continued to get worse as John started slowly improving. Kirsten landed in the hospital with double pneumonia. We were worried but knowing how strong and healthy she was had every confidence that she would be treated and sent home. Kirsten did go home on Monday but not to us.
Kirsten was only 57 years old. As soon as the appointments for vaccines were available to her, she got on the list. On April 9th she was advised that she had an appointment to come in that day. It was too late. She was already sick and quarantined.
The doctor told John that had she been able to have even the first dose of the vaccine she woud still be with us today. I am begging all of my readers to PLEASE get vaccinated. You are another persons everything. Please don't allow them to go through what we are going through right now.
Kirsten's funeral Mass was yesterday. Instead of going to the home show to make plans for renovating our bathroom and then grilling some shrimp for dinner. I spent the day saying goodbye to my heart and preparing a reception for all the people who loved her so dearly.
Today, I had planned on celebrating our Anniversary a day early because tomorrow we are celebrating Frank's birthday with a family dinner. I am happy that John and Kirsten's family that is still in town will be joining us. Life is going to continue, we will adapt because that's the way God made us. We will do our best to be there for John as his and Kirsten's sons return to their lives in other countries and other states.
And we will still eat.....every day.....We are going to the home show today and will have dinner out to celebrate our anniversary. I am going to prepare our Anniversary dinner I had planned on Frank's actual birthday, May 4th.